Entries from September 2016

This casual experience takes guests through various participating businesses located in three different commercial nodes of the town. Each business offers wine tasting and appetizers while introducing guests to what their business has to offer.

Guests receive maps that list each business participating. Up to 20 businesses are allowed on each walk. Two hundred individuals will be allowed to purchase tickets to each walk.

MONROE - Deborah Eileen Tabner, 64, passed away Wednesday, September 21, 2016. She attended Harmony Grove United Methodist Church. Deborah worked for Ryder Fleet as an inventory supervisor. She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles E. and Christine Sparks Crider; her husband, Michael D. Tabner; and two brothers, Charles and Richard ...
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Everyone pretty much knows by now that I love dogs. I’m much more inclined to go talk to a dog than I am a person. Dogs are just better than people a lot of times. They don’t act with malice. Plus they can be more understanding than a human ever could.

As I’ve mentioned before, my parents’ seven month old puppy Ruger makes me smile every day. His sweet little face and his stubby little tail wag so hard it would make anyone smile. He’s a happy go-lucky pup who loves to cuddle on the sofa and go for walks.

He is also going blind.

Ruger’s had a rough start in life. He spent two weeks with a family before my parents adopted him. It turned out they were allergic to him. He spent most of his time in a kennel so they decided to find him a loving home.
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The Board of Commissioners on Tuesday gave final approval of and adopted the total $57.8 million budget for FY2017, which begins Oct. 1 and runs through June 30. The shortened period comes as the county prepares to transition to a July-June fiscal year beginning with FY2018.

Just over $33 million of the total will go toward the general fund, $13.1 million will go toward capital projects, $9.5 million will go to special-revenue funds (fire and E-911), and a little under $8 million will go toward enterprise fund expenditures.

Significant increases in the general fund include $399,000 to implement the recommendations of a pay classification and compensation study that was completed by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
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WINDER - Sammy Leon Harp, 70, passed away on Thursday, September 22, 2016, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Athens, surrounded by his family and friends. Mr. Harp was born in Cedartown, the son of the late Lee and Maebelle Coley Harp. Mr. Harp was a member of Oakland Heights Baptist Church and was a retired heavy equipment operator. Mr. Harp loved ...
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WINDER - Reba Bunn, 75, passed away Wednesday, September 21, 2016, at her residence. A native and lifelong resident of Barrow County, she was the daughter of the late Buck and Lucille Dalton Elder. Mrs. Bunn was a member of Gospel Light Baptist Church and was a homemaker. She was the most giving and caring person ever. Survivors include her ...
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The Apalachee High School baseball team will host a benefit golf tournament on Oct. 13 at The Providence Club in Monroe. The tournament will help raise funds for needed upgrades to the baseball facility including the construction of an indoor batting facility and restoration of the infield. A team package sponsorships is available for $425 ...
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The Apalachee High School boys cross country team won its second meet of the season by earning first in the Wildcat Dash Saturday. The Wildcats compiled 52 points to edge second-place finisher Clarke Central High School. Jackson County, Morgan County and Walnut Grove rounded out the top five in the varsity boys race. Winder-Barrow High School ...
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A proposed state constitution amendment creating Opportunity School Districts is getting some pushback from local school boards, but one state representative supports the change.

Georgia Representative Terry England voted in favor of Senate Bill 133 in the last session.

If approved by voters in the Nov. 8 election, the amendment would allow the state to take over “failing” schools.

Rep. England said these are schools that have “given up.”

“In Georgia, we have communities and counties that have done something I never see happening in Barrow County, they have given up on their schools and school systems,” said Rep. England. “For whatever reason, socioeconomic, generational or other reasons, these communities at some point decided that a good solid education was no longer a priority for their area. That is not fair to the students.”[Full Story »]